Army Corps announces F.E. Walter Dam water release schedule

Published Feb. 1, 2016

The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District released the 2016 Flow Management Plan for the Francis E. Walter Dam in White Haven, PA. The plan, developed in partnership with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, lists dates and release amounts for whitewater and fisheries releases for the 2016 recreation season. 

The plan incorporates several changes from the previous year agreed upon by partner organizations and based on public input. In 2016, water will again be allocated to ensure whitewater releases from July to late August and fisheries releases from July to early September. Seasonal precipitation and water accumulation will be used for releases later in the season (late August through mid-October). 

The whitewater release schedule includes 24 dates (4 of which are dependent on sufficient water storage and not including final October weekend). Planned whitewater release dates are:

  • May:              14, 21, 28, 29
  • June:             11, 12, 25, 26
  • July:              9, 10, 23, 24, 30, 31
  • August:         6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27*, 28*
  • September:   3*, 4*
  • October: as provided by end of year releases around the weekend of 8-9 October**

*Dependent on additional water accumulation in reservoir

**The October weekend release is intended to provide a means of releasing any excess water that may have accumulated during the recreation season.  This is the last added increment for the 2016 recreation plan.  Fisheries releases through the season will be assured before the final weekend (8-9 October) release will be considered.  This release is intended to release all excess water. 

Planned dates (22) for fishing releases (target 400 cfs)* are:

  • March:   5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27
  • April:     2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30
  • May:      1, 7, 8, 15, 22
  • October:  as provided by end of year release around the weekend of 8-9 October

* Release will be set to match inflow with a target release up to 400 cfs.  Inflow will not be augmented by use of storage to satisfy the 400 cfs target.

The Army Corps will hold a total of 22 fishing releases and 24 whitewater release dates (four of which are dependent on additional precipitation along with fisheries enhancement releases on all other days during the recreation season).  Late season whitewater and fisheries enhancement releases are dependent upon additional water becoming available during the year. All dates are dependent on hydrologic conditions and the absence of the need for flood control operations. 

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Release no. 16-003